Why ‘perfect player’ Lionel Messi was ‘always’ part of David Beckham transfer plan at Inter Miami – with Man Utd legend explaining the benefits of ‘special’ deal

The Manchester United and England legend, who is now a co-owner in Florida, helped to complete a stunning transfer coup in the summer of 2023. Messi, who had reached the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, was lured to America amid talk of interest from Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League.

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Messi has starred in the United States, and continues to break records, with Beckham telling Jimmy Kimmel Live of why he was so determined to land the South American superstar: “It’s just that effect Leo has on the game, and the world. One of the reasons why we wanted to bring him to America was to inspire the next generation – that was my plan. I obviously wanted to bring him for the player he is and the person he is. I played against him numerous times – actually twice, thankfully – but I’ve been a fan of him and watched him for many years. I always had the plan to bring the greatest player to ever play the game, in my opinion, to our team. Luckily it happened.”

Beckham added on his GOAT claim - with that debate, which also includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, having been running for some time: “I think everyone’s got their own opinion. There are a lot of great players to have played the game over the years, but in my opinion he is the perfect player.”

Beckham made his own move to America in 2007, when joining the LA Galaxy, and said of using that experience to help secure Messi’s signature: “I could actually come at him and with him with my experience of moving to America and coming to a league that at that time wasn’t established like it is now. There were only 13 teams in the league, now there is almost 30, and it’s in a different position to what it was back then when I first came. But he’s always loved Miami, he’s always loved the idea of the project of making the game even bigger in this country. When you bring someone like that to America, people notice. It’s been very special.”

Messi has been in stunning form this season, with 10 MLS goals recorded in 2024. He is already generating MVP talk and rewrote the history books last time out when posting six goal contributions across a single 90-minute appearance against the New York Red Bulls.